Parent-Child Assistance Program (P-CAP)

Last updated: 2016

In brief

Evidence of model effectiveness

This model does not meet the criteria established by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for an “evidence-based early childhood home visiting service delivery model” for the general population or for tribal populations because there are no high- or moderate-rated effectiveness studies of the model.

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Model description

The Parent-Child Assistance Program (PCAP) targets women who report heavy alcohol or drug abuse during pregnancy and is designed to prevent births of alcohol- and drug-exposed children. To achieve this goal, PCAP aims to help clients complete substance abuse treatment, maintain abstinence from substances, engage in family planning, enhance the health and well-being of their children, connect with community services, and increase their economic stability. PCAP is a social work-based case management-focused home visiting program that provides services for up to three years with at least two home visits per month. During home visits, case managers assess and monitor a family’s needs and well-being; connect the family with community services to address those needs; monitor service receipt; facilitate communication among the client, family members, and community service providers; and address service barriers. The case managers also teach, role model, and guide the development of clients’ interpersonal, parenting, household management, and community living skills; and provide practical assistance such as transportation to appointments. For more information, please read the Model Overview.

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Extent of evidence

Results of search and review
Number of manuscripts
At least one finding was eligible for review…
2
  …and at least one finding rated high
0
  …and at least one finding rated moderate (but none rated high)
0
  …and all findings that were eligible for review rated low
2
  …but manuscript is additional source1
0

1Additional sources have findings or details that perfectly overlap with another manuscript and are not rated.

For more information, see the research database. For more information on the criteria used to rate research, please see details of HomVEE’s methods and standards.

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Summary of findings

To see details on each finding HomVEE reviewed in well-designed research, click on the name of an outcome domain in the tables below. Findings rated low quality by HomVEE are not summarized here.

Outcomes
Findings

Outcome Child Development and School Readiness

Not measured

Outcome Child Health

Not measured

Outcome Family Economic Self-Sufficiency

Not measured

Outcome Linkages and Referrals

Not measured

Outcome Maternal Health

Not measured

Outcome Positive Parenting Practices

Not measured

Outcome Reductions in Child Maltreatment

Not measured

Outcome Reductions in Juvenile Delinquency, Family Violence, and Crime

Not measured

The section above focuses on findings from the full sample in a study. Subgroups that have been replicated in distinct samples also have findings reported above. HomVEE does not report the findings of non-replicated subgroups. Beginning with research reviewed in 2021, however, HomVEE, lists those subgroups on the details page of each manuscript that had at least one finding that rated moderate or high.

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Criteria established by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Information based on comprehensive review of all high- and moderate-rated manuscripts
CriterionCriterion descriptionCriterion met?
1High- or moderate-quality impact study?No
2Across high- or moderate-quality studies, favorable impacts in at least two outcome domains within one sample OR the same domain for at least two non-overlapping samples?Not applicable
3Favorable impacts on full sample?Not applicable
4Any favorable impacts on outcome measures sustained at least 12 months after model enrollment?
Reported for all research but only required for RCTs.		Not applicable
5One or more favorable, statistically significant impact reported in a peer-reviewed journal?
Reported for all research but only required for RCTs.		Not applicable

Notes: If the model does not meet criterion 3 but meets criteria 1 and 2 based on findings from subgroups, the impacts must be replicated in the same domain in two or more studies using non-overlapping analytic study samples. HomVEE assesses and reports criteria 4 and 5 for all models that have well-designed research, but meeting those two criteria is only required of models for which all findings are from randomized controlled trials. Please read the HHS criteria for evidence-based models for more information.

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